When She's Not Here. (Sequel to 'Him, Me and Them.)

Chapter 20

<<~~ Clare's POV ~~>>

His lips... Soft... His touch... All I want... Three second kiss. Soft, sweet. The BEST three seconds I have ever had.

"Wow..." The word escapes my lips. Those same lips that crashed against his seconds earlier.

"That was... amazing..." He whispers.

"Let's hurry up and go to yours."

He pulls off down the road. We sit in silence, with only the radio breaking it. Then one of my favourite songs comes on.

'Daddy I'm falling for a monster,
Somehow he's scaring me to death,
He's big and he's bad,
I love him like mad,
Mama he's the best I've ever had,
Daddy I'm falling for a monster,
He's got a black heart.'

Both of us break into song at the same time. We both laugh.

"Have you ever been married?"
The words come out before I can stop them.

"I'm so sorry that sounded really mean Mark. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"No it's okay. I almost was once, yea. We just didn't have enough in common. After the marriage plans fell through, as I had lent a few people money that they couldn't pay back, I left for England to find work. I was over there for 20 years and came back last week. My friend bought me a house in Letterkenny and I moved in yesterday. I needs redecorating though. All the rooms are painted and there is drawings all over the walls downstairs. The room I'm staying in, the master bedroom, must have been a girls because the bed is pink and so everything else!"

We both laugh.

"Is that how you know my mam then?"

"How do you know I know your mam?"

"She lent you money and she couldn't repay it?"

"Oh when I called the other day? Yea I lent her money that she couldn't repay. But I understand. She has 2 children and it's totally okay."

We pull up at the house and before I can comment any further he walks out and opens my door. He takes my hand and we walk up the drive to the front door. He takes my hand.

"Are you ready?", he asks.
"Let's go inside."